Bluetooth Stereo Headphones

hail2skins · #1 11-18-2006, 01:43 PM

Hey, is anybody using wireless (bluetooth) stereo headphones? I just ordered a bluetooth adapter for my ipod and now I'm researching bluetooth STEREO headphones.

If you do, tell which ones you have and why you chose them. So far I'm looking at the Motorola HT820's and checking out their reviews.

Carmelo · #2 11-18-2006, 01:52 PM

I am not sure about that but I was wondering about something else. Is there a such thing as stereo surround sound headset that I can use for xbox live. I want to hear the people talking to me and be able to respond but also hear the game in surround sound in my headset.

I know I am talking about a different headset than you Mike but I am hoping that someone coming to answer you may be able to answer me.

hail2skins · #3 11-18-2006, 01:58 PM

Hijacker

hail2skins · #4 11-18-2006, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carmelo

I am not sure about that but I was wondering about something else. Is there a such thing as stereo surround sound headset that I can use for xbox live. I want to hear the people talking to me and be able to respond but also hear the game in surround sound in my headset.

I know I am talking about a different headset than you Mike but I am hoping that someone coming to answer you may be able to answer me.

They will be expensive.

http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-RS-.../dp/B0007QN18U

Carmelo · #5 11-18-2006, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hail2skins

They will be expensive.

http://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-RS-.../dp/B0007QN18U

I need them to have a mic in them as well to talk and hear while I play games. That's what I'm talking about....

lol, sorry 'bout the hijack...

Carmelo · #6 11-18-2006, 03:39 PM

ha! Headsets with mic

BurgundyNGold · #7 11-18-2006, 08:01 PM

I just bought the Motorola HT820 headset myself about a week ago. I got it new online for $36 at PriceGrabber.com -- a great place to get cheap electronics. Also, check shentech.com. Anyway, I have it installed and sync'd with my Samsung i730 and my PC, all via bluetooth. I have a 30m (300') range Belkin USB bluetooth adapter that I have hooked up to my PC.

So far, the headset is a mixed bag. Here's the skinny:

1) It's easy to pair with both my phone and my PC.
2) The phone part is crystal clear -- far better than my Motorola H700 bluetooth adapter I got for more. People hear my much better too and you can't beat heaing the other person in both ears. I suspect that this would rock with Skype.
3) I get the full 10m (33') range of the heaset with my Samsung i730; again much better than my H700.
4) The same can't be said about range when I listen to music on my PC via the Belkin bluetooth USB adapter. I might get 6m max. Of course, that's why I bought the 330' instead of the 30' USB model, but I think this has to do with the burden of streaming 128kbps (minimum) stero quality over the headset.
5) The quality when it does connect is admirable. I say this because, since I have my phone with me at my desk, it likes to knock ot the headset connection to the PC occasionally. This might not be an issue if you don't have your phone nearby, but that kind of defeats the purpose of the heatset's microphone, I think.
6) Interesting feature though, when pairing a phone AND an audio device. When the phone rings and you answer on the headset, the music will pause and when the call stops the music will (usually) start up again. Interesting concept.
7) Oh, and the plastic loop that is used to fasten the earpiece overtop of your head can be an irritant and takes some toughening up of the skin.

Synopsis is that its greart as a headset, but still has some kinks as headphones. I have found the stero audio connectivity to be flimsy, but that could just be my USB adapter or my particular unit. If you'e not too demanding on the HT800 for music, it should be fine. If you demand more from your wireless, I would look at RF or something other than bluetooth for the forseeable future.

EDIT: I'm getting tired of constantly having to reconnect the HT820 to the bluetooth adapter on my PC. Sometimes, just changing the volume up or down on the unit (it has volume buttons) knocks out the connection. This simply CANNOT be right. I'll be contacting Motorola on Monday.

Also, I forgot to mention, on all of the Pocket PC phones I've seen, you can use the unit as a phone headset but NOT as headphones for listening to MP3s or whatever on Windows Media player. This is a MAJOR disappointment. I bought the unit hoping I could take MP3s with me on a 1 or 2Gb SD card and listen to them while I did Pocket Word stuf on the road. This is apparently a concurrency issue with the phone sound, so I think all bluetooth headphones have this issue. I have phreaked it to play music in mono through the phone sound channel, but it sounds crackly and, it's mono so it sounds like crap.

hail2skins · #8 11-19-2006, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurgundyNGold

I just bought the Motorola HT820 headset myself about a week ago. I got it new online for $36 at PriceGrabber.com -- a great place to get cheap electronics. Also, check shentech.com. Anyway, I have it installed and sync'd with my Samsung i730 and my PC, all via bluetooth. I have a 30m (300') range Belkin USB bluetooth adapter that I have hooked up to my PC.

EDIT: I'm getting tired of constantly having to reconnect the HT820 to the bluetooth adapter on my PC. Sometimes, just changing the volume up or down on the unit (it has volume buttons) knocks out the connection. This simply CANNOT be right. I'll be contacting Motorola on Monday.

Also, I forgot to mention, on all of the Pocket PC phones I've seen, you can use the unit as a phone headset but NOT as headphones for listening to MP3s or whatever on Windows Media player. This is a MAJOR disappointment. I bought the unit hoping I could take MP3s with me on a 1 or 2Gb SD card and listen to them while I did Pocket Word stuf on the road. This is apparently a concurrency issue with the phone sound, so I think all bluetooth headphones have this issue. I have phreaked it to play music in mono through the phone sound channel, but it sounds crackly and, it's mono so it sounds like crap.

Thanks for the info BNG. You basically said everything I've seen so far on them. One thing though, you should check your Belkin adapter to see if it supports the A2DP profile (advance audio distribution). That's the profile that is used for stereo audio via bluetooth. I know the headphones support them but I'm not sure about your adapter. As for your last comment, I believe the Motorola Q running Windows Mobile 5 does support both phone and stereo audio. They have a stereo headphone profile that you can select to pair as opposed to just headset profile. That may be the issue for you.

On another note, Microsoft just released Voice Command (voice recognition software) for the moto q and I love it much better than the software that comes on the Q. The voice talkback on the Q's software is much better though IMO. But I love the fact that Voice Command actually announces the number of the incoming caller over the ringtone on my headset.

BurgundyNGold · #9 11-19-2006, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hail2skins

Thanks for the info BNG. You basically said everything I've seen so far on them. One thing though, you should check your Belkin adapter to see if it supports the A2DP profile (advance audio distribution). That's the profile that is used for stereo audio via bluetooth. I know the headphones support them but I'm not sure about your adapter. As for your last comment, I believe the Motorola Q running Windows Mobile 5 does support both phone and stereo audio. They have a stereo headphone profile that you can select to pair as opposed to just headset profile. That may be the issue for you.

On another note, Microsoft just released Voice Command (voice recognition software) for the moto q and I love it much better than the software that comes on the Q. The voice talkback on the Q's software is much better though IMO. But I love the fact that Voice Command actually announces the number of the incoming caller over the ringtone on my headset.

Thanks, H2S. I will most certainly do that. If all I have to do is get a new USB adapter then that would be a lot easier than the alternative. Oh, and it seems that we've found another reason to get a Q, lol.

CNYSkinFan · #10 11-19-2006, 05:44 PM

you'll be sorry when in ten years it is found out blue tooth gives you cancer.

BurgundyNGold · #11 11-19-2006, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CNYSkinFan

you'll be sorry when in ten years it is found out blue tooth gives you cancer.

♬ In the year 2000... In the year two THOUS-AND! ♬

I might be sorry in 10 hours if Motorola tells me that I'm screwed on the connectivity getting knocked out.

BurgundyNGold · #12 11-20-2006, 07:05 AM

OK, so I bought the Motorola PC850 USB adapter. It should be here by the end of the week. It's got great ratings, whereas my Belkin apparently has crap ratings for stereo use. The PC850 is also A2DP rated, while it appears the Belkin is not. This should provide me some anwsers one way or the other on the HT820. I'll keep you all posted (as if anyone aside from H2S cares, lol).

skinfanatic · #13 11-20-2006, 08:37 AM

BLUETOOTH! WHAT IS BLUETOOTH? I dont know, but the guys at radio shack do.

hail2skins · #14 11-24-2006, 08:07 PM

Ok, I got the HT820's because I couldn't find the Sony Ericsson HBH-DS970's in any store. I must say I like the HT820's although they're a lil bulky. The sound via my iPod is great and being able to have it paired with my phone and iPod is awesome because when a call comes in, the music stops and the phone takes over automatically. Once I hang up the call, the music automatically restarts. I wish the volume could get a little more louder for riding in those subway tunnels but it suffices.

BurgundyNGold · #15 11-24-2006, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skinfanatic

BLUETOOTH! WHAT IS BLUETOOTH? I dont know, but the guys at radio shack do.

Are you your avatar, lol?

"My dog makes poo"